Get The Best Performance From Your Computer!

1. Get The Best Performance From Your Computer! By Sam Whitewick

2. Improve System Performance • This slideshow will explain how to improve system performance by doing the following tasks: • Virus Protection— run an update to the virus definition files • Schedule a full system scan • Install Service Pack 3 patch for Windows XP • Defragment the Hard Drive • Format a Hard Drive • Install and run a firewall • Create Folders • Copy and delete files • Back up to removable storage device

3. Why Do I Need To Do These Tasks? These tasks will make your computer run better and will help you learn about your computer

4. Virus Protection — run an update to the virus definition files • Running an update on your virus software can help prevent your computer from getting a virus • Getting a virus can cause harm and slow down your computer. It can also retrieve personal information from your computer • So running an update is important for performance

5. Schedule a task • Scheduling as task is a simple way of setting up something to occur on your PC. • Under control panel, there is an option to schedule a task • There are many utilities which you can choose to schedule. The disk clean up is recommended as removes any un-needed files

6. Defragmenting A Hard Drive • Defragging a hard drive involves your computer moving all the sectors to a convenient place for it to look for file quickly • A Hard Drive is made up of lots of different sectors • Each sector has many different files sorted in it • When the computer moves the sectors, it moves the files with it into a neat organisation so it can be found easily and quickly

7. To defragment a hard drive, click start > all programmes > accessories > system tools > disk defragmentation • Click defragment and you should see a screen like this:

8. Formatting a floppy disk • Formatting a floppy disk involves wiping all the data off it • The reason you would want to do this is when it runs out of room and you want to get rid of everything in the floppy disk

9. To format the floppy disk, right click on it under My Computer and click format • It will then give you this screen: • Click Start to format the floppy disk • After it has finished, you should now have a clean floppy disk

10. Installing Service Pack 3 • Installing a service pack updates the operating system • It installs new drivers, updates security on your operating system and often makes the operating system more stable and makes it perform better

11. How to install the service pack • You need to obtain the file through the internet or off a CD. Once you have the file, and put it into the C directory of your hard drive. Double click the exe file and follow the on screen instructions. • It should install without a problem. Your operating system will then be up to date.

12. Install and running a firewall • A firewall is important when surfing the internet. It protects your computer from malicious software coming from the web which can cause harm to your computer • It monitors connections coming in and out of your computer. • Installing a firewall is highly suggested.

13. Installing the firewall • I recommend installing zone alarm. Its free and easy to use. • Download it from the internet or install it from the CD and follow the instructions • Once this has been done, your computer will be protected from the internet

14. Creating Folders • Creating folders is a good way of keeping your documents, music etc. organised. • If you organise them, it will be easier to find and make it easier for your hard drive to access

15. How to create a folder • To create a folder, go to the place where you want to create a new folder on your hard drive • Click File, New, Folder • Name your folder accordingly • You now have a new folder

16. Copy and delete files • Copying and deleting files is a good way of backing up, moving and/or making space on your hard drive • To copy a file, right click on the file and click copy. Go to the location of where you want to make a copy of the file, and right click and select paste • To delete a file, right click on the file and select delete • Select yes to the recycle bin notification

17. Backing up to a floppy disk using compression software • Backing up your work and other files is recommended to save it from being lost, corrupted, or accidently deleted. • To do this, you can use the compression software built into Windows XP • Right click on the file you want to compress and select send to > compressed file • This will make the file smaller, and it will put it into the folder as the original file • To back it up, copy it to a removable storage device such as a floppy disk